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FORMER LEGISLATOR ORDERED BACK TO JAIL

Former State Sen. Guy Velella, a once-powerful Republican lawmaker who resigned after admitting his role in a lucrative public works bribery scheme, was ordered back to jail Friday by a city commission.

Velella and two co-defendents had been released in September after serving about three months of their one-year sentences.

The early releases had been approved by the Local Conditional Release Commission, which was found to have violated state law -- and its own rules -- when determining whether inmates should be approved for conditional release.

In May 2002, Velella, his father and two codefendants were charged in a 25-count indictment that alleged he accepted at least $137,000 in bribes from contractors from 1995 through June 2000.

Last May, Velella quit the State Legislature. Days later, he pleaded guilty to fourth-degree conspiracy.